Combined lock and latch



Feb. 16, 1937. J. E. PRICE 2,070,619

' COMBINED LocK AND LATCH Filed June '7, 1.934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAMES 5. PRICE BY M W J ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 16, 1937. J. E. PRICE COMBINED LOCK AND LATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IfiVENTOR. JAMES E. PRICE I I ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 16, 1937. J 1-; PRICE 2,070,619

' COMBINED LOCK AND LATCH Filed June 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ti lE. ficlli.

745m. WKmIW/ 36 .5 3 3/ 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED LOCK AND LATCH James E. Price, Redondo Beach, Calif.

Application June "1, 1934, Serial No. 729,484 9 Claims. (01. 715-29) system which forms a barrier in the path of movement of a key into the mechanism in such manner as to render the mechanism practically pick-proof and incapable of being operated ex-- cept by the. proper key, all while enabling an enormous number of different arrangements of the tumblers of such system to be obtained as is very desirable commercially and is, in fact,.a necessityin order to insure against the operation of the mechanism by other than the proper key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel latch for a door or other closure which is combined with the aforestated key-controlled mechanism in such manner as to be selectively operated by the mechanism or manually from the outside or inside of a door.

With these and other objects in view, the in-- vention consists in the construction and arrangement of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a door in end elevation, partly broken away, with the coinbined lock and latch embodying my invention 7 applied theretof Figure 2 is a view tion;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal" sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view ofa portion of the door handle with which the invention is associated; v Y

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view of the latch from the reverse side to that shown in Figure 2, and with a cover plate of the enclosing casing removed;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional vie taken on the line 'llof Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of the key-controlled mechanism in side elevation with a cover plate of the enclosing casing thereof removed;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, with one of the side plates composing the frame of the of the latch in side elevamechanism broken away, and showing the locked L position of the mechanism;

Fgures 10 and 11 are views similar to Figure 9 and illustrating different positions of the mechanism during operation thereof by the key;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view inside elevation of a portion of the, mechanism from the reverse side;

Figures 13, 14, 15 and Id are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines l3--l3, ll-M', l5'l5 and Iii-J6 of Figure 9, looking in the directions of the respective arrows;

Figure 17 is a view of the key-controlled mechanism in end elevation;

Figure 18 is a view of the key, by which the mechanism can be actuated; I

Figures 19 and 20 are enlarged fragmen sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines l9 and 20 of Figure 18.

My invention in its present embodiment comprises a key-controlled mechanism mounted in a frame composed of rectangular side plates Ill and I I having openings at the corners thereof tofreely admit screws 42 which pass through spacer sleeves 13 for definitely spacing the plates apart in parallel relationship. The screws I2 are threaded into' bosses ll projecting from the bottom wall 15 of a cup-shaped casing l6 of rectangular outline. to rigidly secure the frame in the casing. A cover plate I1 is secured to the casing 16 by screws N! which. are threaded into openings in the side plate 10, so that the cover and casing co-act to completely enclose the keycontrolled mechanism which is mounted between the plates and includes'a set of key-operated rotary wards I 9. In the present instance, eight of these wards in two correlated groups or. series 6f four each are illustrated, but it is to be clearly understood that a greater or lesser number can be employed, if desired.

The wards [9 are all of identical construction and each is in the form of a disk having four, teeth 20 projecting radially from the periphery thereof at ninety degree intervals so as to be equally spaced apart circumferentially. The four wards 'of one series are rigidly secured in side-by-side abutting relation to a shaft 2|, whereas the four wards of the other series are likewise secured to a second shaft 22. The shafts 2| and 22 are journaled in registering openings in the side plates Ill and l I so as to rotatably mount the two groups of wards between. the plates at opposite sides of a medial line a drawn longitudinally through the casing. The shafts are also disposed adjacent one end wall 23 of the casing and arespaced apart a distance such that the teeth of the wards on either shaft will just clear the peripheries of the 'wards on the other shaft, as clearly shown in Figures 9, 10 and. 11. j

'Ihe wards of each group of four are so arranged circumferentially as to provide a predetermined relationship of the teeth of one ward to the teeth of another; and the two groups of wards are operatively connected for rotation equally in a stop 26 for determining a starting position of the wards to which the wards are normally urged by a flat spiral spring 21 having one end fixed to a pin 28 on the side plate l8, and its other end fixed to. the shaft 22. The directions in which the wards of the respective groups are urged to rotate by the spring 21 are indicated by the arrows in Figure 8.

The wards are adapted to be rotated in directions opposed to the arrows and against the action of the spring 21 by a key 29 which is insertable into the casing |6 through a keyhole 3|] provided in the end wall 23 of the casing. This key is in the form of a flat bar the width of which is practically equal to the combinedthicknesses of the wards of either group, and the thickness of which is slightly less than the spacing between the peripheries of the tumblers of the two groups. At intervals along its lengthcorresponding in relationship and spacing to the teethof the two groups of wards, the key is provided with openings 3| arranged in four rows as clearly shown in Figure I8, so as to co-act'with the teeth of the wards of one group or. the other. Thus, uponinsertion of the key through the keyhole 30 into the casing with one predetermined side of the key facing a predetermined side of the slot, as indicated by suitable indices P-P on the key and casing, the key can be advanced in a rectilinear path between the wards as the teeth of thelatter enter the respective openings 3| of the, key and rotate the wards. Any arrangement of the openings 3| not constituting an absolutely accurate flat development of the arrangement of the teeth .around the peripheries of the respective wards,

will render the key useless as a means to operate the wards. In effect, the key provides a series of racks, the teeth of which are arranged in parallel and side-by-side rows adapmd for intermeshing engagement with the teeth of the wards so as to rotate the latter and thus permit the key to be advanced or retracted, as the case may be.

In the present instance, the advancing movement of the key "is utilized to release a normally locked actuator A and to impart a rectilinear movement thereto for the purpose of operating a door'latch mechanism in a manner to. be later described. However, such motionof this actuator can be employed to operate many other instrumentalities.

The actuator A comprises a fiat rectangular body 32 slidably mounted between the side plates l0 and H and between'guides 3333 on the latter plate for reciprocating motion, the body having at its end remote from the ward assembly an extension inthe'form of a pin 34' which projects freely through an opening in theend wall 35 of the casing IS. The actuator is "urged to the retracted position shown in Figure '8 jby""a coil spring 36 surrounding the pin'34,- .and; against a stop 31 projecting from the inner side of the plate The actuator A carries a pair of locking memv bers 38 and 39 which are in the form of fiat arms working in laterally offset slots 40 and 4| in opposite sides of the body 32 and pivotally mounted on pins 42 and 43, respectively, at that end of the body confronting the ward assembly and disposed at opposite sides of a longitudinal medial slot 44 into. which the forward end of the key 29 is adapted to be inserted.

The locking members 38 and 39 are normally urged inwardly of, the body to the locking position shown in Figure 8 by a coil spring 45 connectedto the membersadjacent their free ends and passing freely through a transverse bore 46 in the body 32. The locking members are respectively provided with outer locking dogs 41 and 4B and inner locking dogs 49 and 50, which are correlated with locking lugs 5| and 52, projecting from the guides 33 at opposite sides of the body 32.

The several locking dogs are in the form of hooks; and in the locking position shown in Figure 9, the outer dogs 41 and 48 are disposed to co-act with V-shaped notches 53 in the lugs 5| and 52, in looking the actuator against advancing movement towards the projected position shown in Figure 11. It will be noted that the outer dogs are arranged to move into locking engagement with the lugs 5| and 52 from the outer sides of the latter and that the inner dogs are arranged to move into locking engagement with the respective lugs from the inner sides of the latter so that it can be said that the lugs are arranged intermediate the outer and inner dogs of the respective locking members.

Projecting respectively from the locking members 38 and 39 adjacent their pivoted ends so as to be disposed side by side within the slot 44 when the members occupy the locked position shown in Figure 9, are cam lugs 54 and 55 adapted to be engaged, respectively, by the oppositely beveled surfaces 56 and 51 formed on the forward end of the key 29, for co-action therewith in response to advancing movement of the key in the slot 44, to rock the locking members about the pins 42 and 43-to the released position shown in" Figure 10 and wherein the outer dogs 41 and 48 clear the locking lugs 5| and'52.

In this released position, the inner dogs 49 and 5|! also clear the locking lugs 5| and 52 so that as advancing movement of the key is continued the actuator A will be correspondingly moved by the key to the projected position shown in Figure 11, and against the action of the spring 36. Upon the withdrawal of the'key, the actuator will be returned by the spring 36 to the re- 5 tracted position shown in Figure 9.

When the key 29 is withdrawn-from the casing,

it will be clear that those teeth of the wards H! which span the key-receiving space between the wards in the initial or starting position of the latter effectively closesuchspace"asto prevent the insertion of a'picking or other instrument in an effort to releas' king-"members 38 and 39. Should any of uch' teethlbeidamaged or broken offfso as permit the insertion of a wire, for example, it will be practicallyimpossible to actuate bothlooking members the proper and equal amounts .to simultaneously release their outer dogs 41 and 48 from the locking lugs 5| and 52, as one or both will be moved an incorrect amount to either retain one or both of the outer dogs in engagement with the locking lugs or cause one orother of the inner dogs 49 and 50 to be moved into locking engagement with said locking lugs. The mechanism is thus practically pick-proof so as to positively insure that only the proper key-can be used for its operation.

In Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the key-controlled mechanism above described is shown associated with'a door latch in a manner to utilizeithe movement of the actuator A from'retracted to projected position, in actuating the bolt of the latch. In this application of the mechanism, the end of its casing l6 from which projects the pin 34 extended into a recess 58 Figure 1 in a.door D from the outer side of the latter and adjacent its free edge. The'casing passes through a slot 59 in an escutcheon plate 68 secured to thewith a keyhole 65 registering with the keyhole 30 of the casing for the insertion of the key 29, all as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8.

The door latch previously referred to comprises a rectangular casing 85a including a back cover plate 65 secured thereto by screws 81, the cover plate and casing being rigidly secured as a unit to the inner side ofthe door Dby screws 88 passing through projecting portions of the cover plate 55.

Reciprocably mounted in the casing 65a in guides 69 and for rectilinear movement to occupy projected and retracted positions, is a latch bolt 1| provided intermediate its ends with an oblique extension 12 working in a cam slot 3 extending obliquely in a cylindrical body 14 reciprocably mounted on a fixed stud for 'rectilinear movement in a path at a right angle to the path of movement of the latch, bolt ll so that according as the body 14 is moved to one extreme osition or another the extension 12 and the cam slot 13 will coact in moving the latch bolt to projected or retracted position. The extension is bifurcated at 15 to freely receive the reduced por-' tion of the body 14 spanning the cam slot 13, and the body is urged by a spring 11 on the stud 15 to the extreme position shown in Figure 5 and wherein the latch bolt occupies its projec'ted position determined by a stoppin Ha.

A portion of the outer end of the body which provides a fiat face or abutment 118 is disposed in the path of movement of the pin 34 of the actuator A so as to be engaged and moved thereby from the extreme position shown in Figures 1 and 6 when the actuator A is moved by the key 29 from the, position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 11, whereby the extension 12 and the cam slot 13 will co-act in moving the bolt to its retracted position out of engagement with the usual keeper I9 in the door a jamb, When the key is withdrawn, the spring II will restore the bolt to projected position.

The bolt can be manually retracted from the inner side of the door D by a pull ring 80 fixed to the head 8| of a pin 82 passing through an opening in'the casing 85av and connected interiorly of the latter to the body 14 by a screw 83.

The bolt can also be manually retracted from the outerside of the door should it be desired to leave the door unlatched. For this purpose, a rod 84 is mounted in the handle 6|, escutcheon plate 60 and back cover plate. of the casing 65, so as to be disposed in'alinement with the pin 82 of the pull ring 88. .The rod 84 is normally urged axially in a direction towards the outer side of the door D by a coil spring 85 surrounding 5 the rod between the cover plate 65 and'a. diametric pin 86 projecting from the rod and adapted to engage the escutcheon plate 50 to limit 'the movement ofthe rod in said directionn The outer end of the rod is provided with a finger 10 piece 8! adapted to be pressed to actuate the rod and cause the latter to engage and move the pin 1 82 in the same direction as the latter is moved by pulling upon the ring 80,, so that by virtueof the operative connection between the pin and' 5 the body 14, the bolt will be retracted.

In'order to render the rod inoperative so that the door can only be opened'from the outside by the key 29, a rock shaft 88 is journaled in the casing 65a and coverplate 88 and is provided2 with a radial projection 89-. Exteriorly of the casing 65a, the shaft is provided with an operating arm 90 by which it can be manually rocked to cause the projection 89 to occupy'either active or inactive position. In its active position the projection 89 is interposed between the confronting ends of the pin 82 and the rod 84 so that V movement of the latter by the finger piece 81 will be positively prevented. In its inactive position, the projection 89 is entirely clear of the path of movement of the rod 84 by the finger piece 81 so that the rod will be operative. The shaft 88 is provided with angularly related flat faces 9| and 92 which are adapted to be engaged by the free end portion of a flat spring 93 secured at its other end to the guide 59, so that the spring will co-act with one face or the other to-releasably retain the projection in active or inactive position.

What is claimed is:

. 1. Mechanism of the class described 'comprising a plurality of wards having circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mounting the wards intwo groups for rotary movement about axes ar ranged side by side with the wards of, one group spaced from those of the other group sufiiciently to provide for the passage of the teeth of the respective wards and for the insertion of a key therebetween to co-act with the teeth in rotating the wards; means for operatively connecting the groups of wardsto synchronize rotation of the groups in opposite directions; and means for urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a pre-determined starting position.

2. Mechanism of the class described comprls- 5:,

ing a plurality of fla't disk-like wards having- 'circumferentially spaced teeth projecting from the peripheries thereof; means for mounting the wards in two groups for rotary movement about axes arranged to interrelate the teeth of the groups for co-action with a key in rotating the wards in order to permit the key't'o be advanced therebetween; means for operativelyconnecting the groups of wards to synchronize rotation thereof in opposed directions; and means for 5 urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined startinglposition. 3. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of fiat disk like wards having teeth arranged at predetermined locations about the peripheries thereof; two rotatably mounted shafts to which'said wardsare fixed so as to be arranged side by side in two groups with the teeth of the groups interrelated for co-actionwith a key in rotating the wards in order to permit the key to be advanced therebetween; intermeshing gears fixed to the shafts to synchronize rotation of the two groups of wards in opposed directions; and means for urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined starting position.

. 4. Mechanism of the class described comprising a'plurality of wards having circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mounting the wards in two groups for rotary movement about axes arranged side by side with the wards of one group spaced from those of the other group sufficiently to provide for the passage of the teeth of the respective wards and for the insertion of a key therebetween to co-act with the teeth in rotating the wards; means for operatively connecting the groups of wards to synchronize rotation of the groups in opposite directions; means for urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined starting position; an actuator; means for normally locking the actuator; and means adapted for operation by the key as the latter is advanced between the groups of wards, to unlock the last means for movement of the actuator by the key.. 7

5. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of wards having circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mounting the wards in two groups for rotary movement about axes arranged side by side with the wards of one group spaced from those of the other group sufficiently to provide for the passage of the teeth of the relocking members disposedjfor engagement and operation by the key when advanced between the groups of wards, to release the locking members so as to enable the key to advance the actuator to a projected position.

6. Mechanism of the class described compris-.

ing a plurality of wards having circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mounting the wards in two groups for rotary movement about axes arranged side by sidewith the wards of one group spacedirom those of the other group suificiently to provide for the passage of the teeth of the respective wards and for the insertion of av key therebetween to co-actwith the teeth in rotating the. wards; means-for operatively connecting the groupsfsoif wardstov synchronize rotation of the groups in opposite directions; means for urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined starting position; a reciprocably mounted actuator; locking members movably mounted on theac'tuator and having. locking dogs; stationary locking lugs with which said dogs co-act to lock the actuator in a retracted position; and means on the locking members adapted to be engaged by the key when advanced between the groups of. wards, to release the locking members so as to enable the key to advance the actuator to a projected position. i

'7. Mechanism of the class described comprisinga plurality of -'wards having circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mountingthe wards in ranged side by side with the wards of one group spaced from those of the other group sufliciently to provide fora the passage of the teeth of the respectivewards and for the insertion of a-key therebetween to co-act with the teeth inrotating the wards; means for operatively connecting the groups of wards to synchronize rotation of the groups in opposite directions; means for urging the two'groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined starting position; a recipro'cably mounted actuator; locking members pivotally mounted on the actuator and having inner and outer locking dogs; stationary locking lugs with which said locking dogs are adapted to co-act; means for normally urging the locking members to positions wherein the outer locking dogs will coact with said lugs to lock the actuator in a retracted position; and means on the locking members adapted to be engaged by the key when advanced between the groups of .wards, to move the looking members sufliciently to release the outer locking dogs from said lugs while the inner locking dogs remain clear of the lugs so ,as to enable the key to advance the actuator to a projected position. I

8. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of-wards having. circumferentially spaced teeth; means for mounting the wards in two groups for rotary movement about axes arranged side by side with the wards of one group spaced from those of the other group sufficiently to provide for the passage of the teeth of the respective wards and for the insertion of a key therebetween to co-act with the teeth in rotating the wards; means for operatively connecting the groups of wards to synchronize rotation of thegroups in opposite directions; means for urging the two groups of wards to rotate to a predetermined starting position; a reciprocablymounted actuator; locking members pivotally mounted on the actuator'and having inner and outer'locking dogs; stationary locking lugs with which said looking dogs are adapted to co-act; meansfor normally urging the locking members to positions wherein the outer locking dogs will co-act with the said lugs to lock the actuator in a retracted position; and means defining cam surfaces on the locking members adapted to beengaged by the forward end of the key when advanced between the groups of wards, to move the locking members sufficiently for the outer locking dogs thereof tobe released from said lugs while the inner locking dogs remain clear of the'lugs, whereby to enable the key to advance the actuator to a projected position.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of wards; means for mounting the wards for rotation; means on the wards with which a key is adapted to co-aet to rotate the wards in order to enable the key to be advanced in a linear path; a reciprocablymounted actuator; a locking member carried by the actuator and having a locking dog; a stationary lug with which said dog is adapted to co-act to lock the actuator in a retracted position; and means on the locking member adapted to be engaged by the key during advancing movement thereof, to move the locking member and unlock the said dog irom said lug, whereby to free the actuator for movement to a projected position by the key.

JAMES E. PRICE. 

